Rug-making machine



May l5, '1934. A, 'WHITE 1,958,556 I RUG MAKING MACHINE Filed May 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. WHITE RUG MAKING MACHINE Filed May l2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 15, 1934.

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Patented May l5, 1934 UNITED s'mrlazs PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to machines for use in the manufacture or fabrication of rugs of the hooked variety, that is, rugs which consist of a base of burlapor like loosely woven fabric, and a facing of comparatively long, closely arranged loops of yarn or similar material on one side of the burlap base. More particularly, the invention relates to that type of rug-making machine which is driven by an electric motor, is adapted to be moved manually over the burlap base in connection with the formation of the loops of the facing and comprises (1) a vertically slidable needle which has an eye or hole at the lower end thereof for the yarn and is adapted, rst to be shifted downwardly through the burlap base to form a depending loop, and then to be raised above the base into a position wherein on the next down-stroke, a second lcop will be formed adjacent the first loop; (2) a vertically slidable loop-holder which is positioned directly alongside of the needle and is adapted to be shifted downwardly through the burlap base in order to hold the loop, after formation thereof and during the up-stroke of the needle, and then to be raised after the following or succeeding down-stroke of the needle and the formation of the second loop; and (3) mechanism which is driven by the electric motor and operates alternately to reciprocate the needle and loop-holder in order to effect a continuous formation of the loops and thus make the facing of the rug.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which is more enicient in operation than, and is an improvement upon machines of the same general character and for the same purpose, for the reason that compression springs are employed to impart the down-strokes tothe needle and loop-holder in order to accelerate the loop-forming action and in the case of the needle, to produce a quick punching or perforating action with respect to the burlap baseinstead of a comparatively slow steady down-stroke which might result in stretching and tearing cf the burlap strands of the base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rug-making machine of the aforementioned type which contemplates an intermittent reciprocation of the needle and loop-holder, in contradistinction to a. continuous reciprocation, and comprises novel and simple means for imparting the up-strokes to the needle and the loop-holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type under consideration in 53 which the loop-holder is provided with a presser ljustable so that the machine may be set to form foot which is adapted when the loop-holder is at the end of its down-stroke, to engage the top parts of theimmediate loops in order to hold them against the burlap base and thus prevent distortion or slippage of the loops during the up- U0 stroke of the needle. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a rug-making machine of the last mentioned character which embodies simple mechanism for drawing the yarn from the source of supply during the up-stroke of the needle in order to form over the burlap base a loose or free feed loop for the needle in its next action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rug-making machine of the character under consideration in which the mechanism for alternately reciprocating the needle and loopholder is partly mounted Within a tube which depends from the housing and is provided at its lower end with runners for supporting the machine when it is moved over the burlap base in connection with the formation or fabrication of the rug.

Av still rfurther object of the invention is to provide a machine for making hooked rugs which is of novel design and construction and may be produced at a comparatively low cost, and in which the supporting runners as well as the presser foot and yarn-drawingl member are adloops of any desired length.

In addition it is contemplated as one of the objects of the invention, to provide a method of making a hooked rug which consists in placing the burlap base upon a bed of bristles so as to support all parts thereof, and then operating a loopforming machine over the burlap base in such a manner that the loops are formed between the bristles and hence are held in place during operation of the machineand are practically uniform as far as length is concerned.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present rugmaking machine will be apparent to those who are skilled in the art from a consideration of the 100 following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. 105

In the drawings which accompany andform a. part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side view showing amachine emn0 l lar material.

bodying the invention supported from above and over a burlap base on a bed of bristles, and illustrating the manner in which the machine is used in connection with the formation of loops on the under side of the base;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, illustrating in detail the mechanism for alternately reciprocating the needle'and the loop-holder, and showing the manner in which the springs are applied to impart the down strokes to the needle and loop-holder;

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are detailed views, illustrating the operation of the needle and loopholder in connection with the formation of loops on the burlap base in conjunction with the supporting bed of bristles;

Figure 7 is a plan view of one of the Washers which are used in the tube to support for vertical sliding movement the needlerand the loop-holder Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section on the line 8-3 of Figure 2;

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are detailed views, illustrating the manner in which the motor-driven mechanism within the housing operates alternately to reciprocate the needle and loop-holder; Figure 13 is a perspective of the presser foot; Figure 14 is a side view of the sleeve which operates adjustably to connect the runners to the tube; and

Figure 15 is an enlarged section on the line 15--15 of Figure 2. Y

The machine which forms the subject matter of the invention is designed to form a hooked rug by forming on one side of a base 16 of burlap or like loosely woven fabric, a facing 17 of comparatively long, closely arranged loops of yarn or simi- The burlap base is preferably supported in a horizontal position over a bed 18 of lbristles and has the marginal portions thereof tacked or otherwise secured to a rectangular frame 19 so that it is taut. The frame 19, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, is supported on a frame-structure 20and supports the bed of bristles. The machine is adapted, as hereinafter described, to be moved manually over the top surface of the burlap base 16 and is supported from above by a cable 21. The latter passes over a pulley 22 and has attached thereto a weight 23 so as to counterbalance the machine and permit the latter to be manipulated in connection with the loop-forming operation with but little effort upon the part of the operator. The pulley 22 is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings as being suspended by a swivel mounting from the ceiling of the room in which the frame-structure 20 is disposed. The machine is driven by an electric motor 24 and comprises a housing 25, a needle 26 and a loop-holder 27.

The housing 2,5 is preferably formed of cast metal. It is rectangular in conformation and comprises a top wall 28, a bottom wall 29, a front Wall 30, a back wall 31 and a sidewall 32. These Walls are formed integrally with one another and together dene a compartment 33 which is open at one side thereof. A cover 34 serves to close the open side of the compartment. This cover fits against the edges of the top, bottom, front and back walls, and is secured removably in place by means of screws 35. The latter pass through holes in the cover and extend into lugs 36 which are formed integrally'with the housing.

The needle 26 is formed from a strip of plate steel or other suitable material and extends vertically. It is adapted as hereinafter described, to be reciprocated up and down and is slidably mounted in a tube 37. The latter is preferably formed of sheet metal and depends from the housing 25. The upper end of the tube fits within Aand extends through a cylindrical member 38 the latter in connected relation with respect to the housing. The upper end of the needle 26 is slidably mounted in a washer 40 and projects into thev compartment 33 in the housing. The washer 40 is secured in the upper end of the tube 37 by means of the screws 39 and embodies in the central portion thereof a slot 41 through which the upper end of the needle extends. The lower end of the needle is slidably mounted in a Washer 42 and projects beneath the tube. The washer 42 is held in the lower end of the tube 37 by means of screws 43 and embodies a slot 44 through which the lower end of the needle extends. The portion of the needle which extends or projects beneath the tube is shaped to form a hollow or recessed point 45 and embodies a vertically extending eye 46 for receiving the yarn for making the loops of the facing 17. The yarn is indicated in the drawings by the reference numeral 47 and is supported in the form of a ball on an axle or cross shaft 48 at the front of the housing 25. The axle 48, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, is supported at the outer ends of a pair of arms 49 which are secured to and project outwardly from the front wall 30 of the housing.` The yarn extends downwardly from the ball and is threaded through the eye 46, as shown in the drawings. The needle is adapted, on the down-stroke thereof, to be forced through the burlap base 16 in order to draw the yarn through the base and form a loop. On the up-stroke of the needle, the needle point 45 is withdrawn from the burlap base in such a manner that it leaves the loop and is positioned to form another loop during its next down-stroke.

The loop-holder 27, like the needle 26, is formed from a strip of plate steel or like material and extends vertically. It is adapted to be reciprocated up and down, ts directly against the needle and is slidably mounted in the Washers 40 and 42 in the ends of the tube 37. The upper end of the loop-holder extends through the slot 41 in the central portion of the washer 40 and projects into the compartment 33 in the housing 25. The lower end of the loop-holder extends through the slot 44 in the central portion of the washer 42 and projects beneath the lower end of the tube 37. The extreme lower end of the loop-holder, that is, the part which projects beneath the tube 37, fits within the recess of the point 45 of the needle and is adapted when the holder is at the end of its down-stroke, tov engage the lower end of the loop formed by the needle to hold the loop against distortion during the up-stroke of the needle. The loop-holder is adapted to be shifted downwardly after downward shift of the needle land is not raised until after the needle is shifted upwardly and then downwardly a second time in order to form the next loop. During downward shift, the loop-holder slides against the needle point 45. In order to engage and prevent lateral slippage of the loop relatively to the loop-holder, the extreme 's extending bar 52. The latter extends alongside of the needle and is mounted for vertical Asliding movement in a slot 53 in the washer 40. The upper end of the bar 52 projects into the compartment 33 in the housing 25 and is attached by a screw 54 to an offset part 55 at the extreme upper end of the needle 26. The lower end of the bar is provided with a head 56. The compression spring /51 encircles the lower end of the bar and extends between the head 56 and the washer 40. The loop holder 27 is shifted downwardly by means of a compression spring 57. This spring is located within the tube 37 and is applied to a vertically extending bar 58 which extends alongside of the loop-holder and is mounted for vertical sliding movement in a slot 59 in the washer 40. The upper endl of the bar projects into the compartment 33 and is secured by a screw 60 to an offset part 61 at the extreme upper end of the loop-holder. The lower end of the bar 58 embodies a head 62 which serves as an abutment for the lower end of the spring 57. The latter extends around the lower end of the bar and is arranged so that the upper end thereof abuts against the washer 40. Downward movement of the needle and loop-holder is limited by engagement of the offset parts and 61 with an abutment plate 63. The latter is confined within the extreme upper end of the tube 37 and rests upon a felt pad 64 0n the washer 40. This pad and the abutment plate have holes or slots therein which register with the slots 40, 53 and 59 in the washer. By utilizing the pad 64 between the abutment member and the washer, the blows imparted to the member 63 by the offset parts 55 and 61 are cushioned.

The needle and loop-holder are adapted to be reciprocated alternately by means of mechanism which is disposed in the compartment 33 of the housing 25 and is driven by the electric motor 24. The motor is mounted on thetop wall v28 of the housing and is arranged so that the rotor shaft thereof extends into the compartment 33. The mechanism for alternately reciprocating the needle and loop-holder comprises a vertically extending shaft 65 which is connected to the rotor shaft of the motor and is journalled in bearings 66 and 67; a worm 68 which is mounted on the central portion of the shaft 65 and is secured fixedly to the latter by means of a. set screw 69; and a worm gear 70-which is mounted on a horizontally extending shaft 71 and meshes with and is driven by the worm 68. The bearings 66 and 67 for the shaft 65 are connected respectively to the top wall 28 and the bottom wall 29 of the housing. The shaft 71 for the worm gear 70 is journalled in bearings which are associated with the cover 34 and the side wall 32 of the housing. The worm gear extends between the oset parts 55 and 61 at the upper ends of the needle and loop-holder, andl is provided at opposite sides thereof with rollers 72 and 73. The roller 72 is mounted on a stud 74 and is adapted during drive of the worm gear, to be rotated into engagement with a linger 75 on the offset part 55 of the needle and to raise the needle. The finger 75 projects horizontally from the offset part 55 and is adapted to be engaged by the roller 72 during upward travel of the latter.. When the roller is rotated out of engagement with the finger, the needle is released so that the spring 51 shifts it downwardly for loop forming purposes. The roller 73 is mounted on a stud 76 on the worm gear 70 and is adapted during drive of the gear, to engage a horizontally extending finger 77 on the offset part 61 of the loop holder, and to raise the loop-holder.

The nger 77 is positioned opposite theflnger 75y and receives the roller as the latter is swung upwardly during rotation of the worm gear 70. During rotation of the worm gear, the roller 73 engages and raises upwardly the finger 77 and is then rotated out of engagement with the finger so that the loop-holder is released. Upon release of the loop-holder, the compression spring 57 shifts the holder downwardly into its operative position, that is, the position wherein it serves to hold in place the loop formed by the needle. The roller 73 is located preferably dametrically opposite the roller 72 with the result that the needle and loop-holder are alternately reciprocated.

The lmachine is supported so that the needle and .loop-holder are held in the proper position with respect to the burlap base 16, by means of a pair of elongated runners 78. These runners are arranged in side-by-side relation as shown in the drawings, and have the front and rear ends thereof connected by uprights to the lower end of a vertically extending sheet metal sleeve 79. The latter fits around the lower end of the tube 37 and embodies a pair of diametrically opposite, vertical slots 80. The screws 43 for holding in place the washer 42, extend through these slots and form therewith a connection whereby the sleeve may be adjusted longitudinally of the tube in order to raise or lower the runners with respect to the needle and loop-holder. The runners straddle the needle and loop-holder, as shown in Figure 2, and are adapted by adjustment relatively to the tube, to determine the length of the loops of the facing 17.

In order to assist the loop-holder in holding in place the loops formed by the needle, a presser foot 81 is provided. This presser foot is preferably stamped from a strip 82 of sheet metal.

One end of this strip is shaped to fit around the loop-holder 27 and embodies a vertical slot 83. A set screw 84 extends through this slot and into the loop-holder and forms a connection between the presser foot and the holder whereby it is possible to adjust the presser foot vertically. The

other end of the strip 82 is shaped so that it extends horizontally and projects in back of the lower or operative end of the loop-holder. The portion of the strip which extends behind the Vloop-holder is adapted to engage the 'upper ends of the loop formed by the needle and to hold them in place against the burlap base while the loopholder is in its lowered position.

For the purpose of facilitating feed of the yarn to the needle, a member 85 is provided. This member is in the form of a one-way clutch and extends around the yarn at a point adjacent the sleeve 79. It is mounted for vertical slidng movement in a bearing 86 and operates, when shifted downwardly, to draw the yarn from the ball and to form above the burlap base 16, a free loose loop for feed to the needle. When shifted upwardly, the member' is adapted to slide on the yarn. The bearing 86 is attached to the sleeve by means of a bracket 87. The latter consists of a pair of laterally spaced arms between which the yarn is adapted to pass. The member 85 embodies an annular series of inwardly extending prongs 88 for eectng the clutching action in one direction, and is reciprocated vertically for yarn-pulling purposes by means of a lever 89. This lever is centrally fucrumed on a member 90 on the bracket 87 and is connected by a pin and slot connection 91 to the lower end of the member 85. The other end of the lever is adapted to be actuated by means of a dog 92 which lits against and is slidably mounted on the lower end of the needle 26. When the needle 26 is shifted upwardly by the roller 72 in response to rotation of the Worm gear 70, the dog 92 swings the lever 89 so that the one-way clutch-member 85 is shifted downwardly and forms a feed loop for the needle. A spring 93 serves to shift the lever so as to raise the member 85. This spring extends between the bracket 87 and the end of the lever which is connected by the pin and slot connection 91 to the lower end of the member 85. When the needle 26 is raised so that the dog 92 operates the lever 89 to lower the` member 85, the spring 93 is placed under tension. Upon `lowering or downward shift of the needle, the dog 92 is shifted away from the lever so that the spring is free to raise the member 85. By virtue of the specific lever arrangement herein comprehended, a loose feed loop is formed above the'burlap on the up-stroke of the needle, and hence the needle has yarn available when it is shifted downwardly by the spring 51 for loopforming purposes. By adjusting the dog 92 vertically on the needle, the stroke of the lever 89 may be controlled so as to adjust the amount of yarn pulled downwardly by the member 85. When the sleeve 79 is adjusted so that the needle operates to form comparatively short loops, the dog 92 is shlfted so that it engages the lever 89 towards the end of the up-stroke of the needle and causes the lever to move but a comparatively small distance. When the machine is adjusted so that the needle forms comparatively longy loops, the dog 92 is raised so that it engages the lever 89 at a point wherein it causes the lever to swing through a comparatively large .arc in order to move the member 85 downwardy the proper distance for effecting the right length of feed loop. The member 85, together with the lever 89 and the dog 92, exemplifies simple means for forming a feed loop over the burlap during the up-stroke of the needle.

In making the burlap base into a hooked rug, the base, while stretched on the frame 19, is laid upon the bed 18 of bristles, in order that the burlap strands are adequately supported and hence are not likely to stretch or tear during formation of the facing of loops. After the burlap base is laid upon the bed of bristles, the loopforming machine is pulled downwardly unt l the runners 78 contact with the burlap base. When the machine is in this position, the electric motor 24 is started so as to effect rapid reciprocation of the needle and loop-holder. On the downstroke of the needle 26, the yarn which is threaded through the eye 46 is forced through the burlap base and between the bristles of the bed 18 so as to form a loop. Pri or to the up-stroke of the needle, the loop-holder 27 is shifted downwardly so that it engages the lower end of the loop and holds the loop in place during the upstroke of the needle. During the down-stroke of the loop-holder, the presser foot 8l is brought to rest against the upper end of the loop so that the loop is held against distortion upon the next succeeding u p-stroke of the needle. During the up-stroke of the needle, the member 85 draws downwardly the yarn so as to form aloose feed loop above the burlap base. In response to alternate reciprocation of the needle and loopholder by actuation of the motor 24, loops are formed on the under side of the fabric base.

After the facing 17 is completed, the frame 19 is raised with respect to the frame-structure 20 so as to withdraw the loops from between the bristles of the bed 18. Upon removal of the frame 19 from the margins of the burlap base, the rug is completed and is adapted to be used in a position wherein the facing of loops is on top.

The machine herein described is exceedingly simple, as far as construction is concerned, and operates efficiently by virtue of the fact that the reciprocation of the needle and loop-holder is intermittent and the down-strokes of the needle and holder are effected by compression springs which tend to produce a punching action and to avoid stretching or tearing of the strands of burlap in the base 16.

Whereas the machine has been described as being adapted particularly for use in connection with the manufacture of hooked rugs, it is to be understood that the machine may be used for different purposes. It is also to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth, since these may lbe modif-ledwithin the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a vertically slidable needle adapted to be reciprocated and to form loops upon the down strokes thereof, a vertically slidable holder positioned alongside of the needle and adapted to be reciprocated in alternate relation with the needle and to hold in place on the down strokes thereof the loops formed by said needle, and

mechanism for alternately reciprocating the needle and loop-holder at timed intervals including means for positively imparting the up strokes to the needle and a, spring for imparting the down strokes to the needle immediately after the up strokes are imparted thereto by said means.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a vertically slidable needle adapted to be reciprocated and to form loops upon the down-strokes thereof, a vertically slidable holder positioned alongside of the needle and adapted to be reciprocated in alternate relation with the needle and to holdin place on the down-strokes thereof the loops formed by said needle, and mechanism for alternately reciprocating the needle and loop-holder at timed intervals comprising means for alternately imparting the upstrokes to the needle and holder, and springs for imparting the down-strokes to said needle and holder immediately after the up-strokes are imparted thereto by the aforesaid means.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a vertically slidable needle adapted to be reciprocated and to form loops upon the down-strokes thereof, a vertically slidable holder positionedalongside of the needle and adapted to be reciprocated in alternate relation with the needle and to hold in place on the down-strokes thereof the loops formed by said needle, a pair of bars connected respectively to and extending longitudinally of the needle and loop-holder, and

needle and holder at timed intervals comprising means for alternately imparting the up-strokes to the needle and holder, and compression springs around the bars for imparting the downstrokes to' said needle and holder immediately after the up-strokes are imparted thereto by the aforesaid means.-

4. In a machine of the character described, the

rmechanism for alternately reciprocating the alternately reciprocating said needle and holder' combination of a housing embodying a depending tube, a needle mounted for'vertical sliding movement in the tube and adapted to be recip-I rocated and during the down-strokes thereof to form loops, a holder mounted for vertical sliding movement in the tube alongside of the needle and adapted to be reciprocated in alternate relation with the needle and to hold in place on the downstrokes thereof the loops-formed by said needle, and mechanism for alternately reciprocating the needle and loop-holder at definitely timed intervals comprising motor-driven means within the housing for alternately imparting the upstroke to the needle and' holder, and springs within the tube for imparting the down-strokes to the needle and holder immediately after the upstrokes are imparted thereto by the aforesaid means.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination pf a housing embodying a depending tube, a l,vertically slidable needle in the tube provided at its upper end with a laterally extending finger and adapted to be reciprocated and during the down-strokes thereof to form loops, a vertically slidable holder in the tube also provided at its upper end with a laterally extending finger and adapted to be reciprocated in alternate relation with the needle and to hold in place on the down-strokes thereof the loops formed by said needle, and mechanism for alternately reciprocating the needle and loop-holder at definitely timed intervals comprising a motor-driven wheel within the housing embodying a pair of members at opposite sides thereof ar- -ranged so that during drive of the wheel they are successively brought into contact with the fingers and serve alternately to impart the upstrokes to the needle and loop-holder, and springs within the tube for imparting the down-strokes to said needle and holder immediately after the up-strokes are imparted thereto by the members.

7. In a .machine of the character described, the combination of a housing embodying `a depending tube, a vertically extending loop-forming needle mounted for vertical sliding movement in the tube and having the lower end thereof projecting beneath the tube and embodying an eye, a vertically extending loop-holder mounted to slide within the tube alongside of the needle and having its lower end also projecting beneath the tube, means within the housing for alternately reciprocating the needle and loopholder for loop-forming purposes, a sleeve extending around, and mounted on the lower end of the tube, and a pair of laterally spaced, horizontally extending elongated runners positioned on opposite sides of the lower ends of the needle and loop-holder and having the front and rear ends thereof connected by xed uprights to the sleeve so as to `form a rigid support for the machine, said'sleeve being adjustable vertically on the tube so that the runners may be shifted vertically with respect to the needle and 'loop-holder in order to determine the length of the loops formed by the needle.

8. In aA machine of the character described,

the combination of means for supporting a ball of yarn, a slidably mounted needle having an eye at one end thereof for the yarn and operative in response to reciprocation thereof to form loops of the yarn, a slidably mounted holder positioned alongside of the needle and adapted upon reciprocation in alternate relation with the` nipulated to control the length of the feed loops.

ALBERT WHITE.

Patent No. 1,958,556 Granted May 15, 1934 ALBERT WHITE T he above entitled. patent was extended J une 5, 1951, under the provisions of the Act of J une 30, 1950, for 4 years and 25 days, from the expiration of the original term thereof.

Commissioner 0f Patents. 

